Roosevelt debuts brand new gym with four-set win over Kalaheo

MAKIKI — There was no scenario where the home team didn’t win this match.

Roosevelt made sure the first contest in its new gymnasium was a victory as the Rough Riders came away with a four-set win over visiting Kalaheo Wednesday night in an OIA Division-I East matchup.

Set scores were 25-16, 25-20, 21-25 and 25-18.

“We were super excited for this game,” said junior outside hitter Kaycie Garnett, the Fun Factory Games ‘VIP of the Game.’

“We knew that it’s been three years since we’ve had a gym. We had a home crowd, we were lucky enough that we put together a student section. We had so many students, faculty and all of our families come out so that really made this first game really special for us.”

Garnett led the way with a match-highs in kills (21) and aces (6). She also did a little bit of everything with four digs, one assist and one block to help the Rough Riders improve to 3-0 in OIA play after winning the league’s Division II crown a season ago.

“Being an upperclassmen now, I have people that look up to me, but also as a team we work together,” said Garnett.

All smiles for junior outside hitter Kaycie Garnett. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

“We knew that now we’re in a different division. Last year, we were D2, this is D1. This is a whole different level of competition and we know every team is going to be tough so we are working on that mindset of being stronger, both mentally and physically.”

The Rough Riders as a whole totaled 16 aces in the match. Outside of Garnett’s six aces, setter Alana Lewis and libero Zaylee Hunziker each had four aces, with Hunziker getting three consecutive terminating serves to close out the opening set. Sanoe Holani-Frank and Makanani Campbell-Rodenhurst also registered an ace.

“Our serving game is one of our most important things for us,” said Garnett. “The fact that we could bring our service game tonight, that’s what helped us.”

Kamelehone Trueman led the Mustangs (1-2) in the loss with 13 kills.